| Copyright 2008 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
Historic Blakeley State Park
The Battle of Blakeley, Alabama - April 1865
| Redoubt #4 at Blakeley The partially restored Redoubt #4 at Blakeley was the scene of a critical Union breakthrough during the Battle of Blakeley, Alabama. |
Sometimes called the Battle of Fort Blakeley ("Fort Blakely"),
the Battle of Blakeley was one of the last major encounters of
the Civil War. Fought near the end of the Mobile Campaign, it
assured the fall of Mobile and was one of the bloodiest battles
fought in the state of Alabama.
The site of the main fighting of the battle is now preserved at
the Historic Blakeley State Park, located just north of Spanish
Fort on Alabama Highway 225. The park preserves both Union
and Confederate fortifications from the battle.
The Battle of Blakeley began in April of 1865 when Union
forces converged on the important Confederate defenses
there. Despite skirmishing and forays from the Southern
defenders of Blakeley, the Union forces constructed a series of
three parallels, each one closer to the Confederate lines than
the previous. The last or Third Parallel was only 500 yards from
the main Confederate line.
From this last parallel, the Federal troops pushed forward zig
zag approach trench that took them even closer to the Southern
defenses.
After nearby Spanish Fort fell on the night of April 8, 1865, the
Union troops besieging Blakeley were reinforced by additional
men and the main attack began at 5:25 p.m. the next afternoon.
In a hammering series of assaults that spread from the left to
the right, the Union troops charged into a storm of musketry
and artillery fire from the Confederate fortifications. In front of
Redoubt #4, one of the primary Confederate forts, the men of
the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division, led by the 83rd Ohio
Infantry, charged down through a large ravine. The attack came
so fast that the Confederates in the fort were hindered in their
defense due to the necessity to hold their fire to avoid hitting
some of their own skirmishers who were falling back ahead of
the Union attack.
By the time the ground in front of the fort was clear, it was too
late. Despite heavy fire from the Confederates, the Union
troops surged up and over the walls of the redoubt. Some of
the Southern troops there surrendered, but others fell back out
of the fort and continued fighting. In the end, though, the
defenders of Blakeley were forced to surrender.
When the smoke had cleared, 216 men lay dead, 955 had
been wounded and 3,050 Confederate soldiers were
prisoners of war.
The site of the attack on Redoubt #4 is now preserved at
Historic Blakeley State Park. Visitors can tour the battlefield on
foot or by car and can explore the Confederate fortifications, the
Union breastworks and artillery batteries and the scene of the
Union charge.
The park is open to the public on a daily basis and brochures
for the Blakeley Battlefield Self-Guided Tour are provided by the
personnel at the park entrance.
the Battle of Blakeley was one of the last major encounters of
the Civil War. Fought near the end of the Mobile Campaign, it
assured the fall of Mobile and was one of the bloodiest battles
fought in the state of Alabama.
The site of the main fighting of the battle is now preserved at
the Historic Blakeley State Park, located just north of Spanish
Fort on Alabama Highway 225. The park preserves both Union
and Confederate fortifications from the battle.
The Battle of Blakeley began in April of 1865 when Union
forces converged on the important Confederate defenses
there. Despite skirmishing and forays from the Southern
defenders of Blakeley, the Union forces constructed a series of
three parallels, each one closer to the Confederate lines than
the previous. The last or Third Parallel was only 500 yards from
the main Confederate line.
From this last parallel, the Federal troops pushed forward zig
zag approach trench that took them even closer to the Southern
defenses.
After nearby Spanish Fort fell on the night of April 8, 1865, the
Union troops besieging Blakeley were reinforced by additional
men and the main attack began at 5:25 p.m. the next afternoon.
In a hammering series of assaults that spread from the left to
the right, the Union troops charged into a storm of musketry
and artillery fire from the Confederate fortifications. In front of
Redoubt #4, one of the primary Confederate forts, the men of
the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division, led by the 83rd Ohio
Infantry, charged down through a large ravine. The attack came
so fast that the Confederates in the fort were hindered in their
defense due to the necessity to hold their fire to avoid hitting
some of their own skirmishers who were falling back ahead of
the Union attack.
By the time the ground in front of the fort was clear, it was too
late. Despite heavy fire from the Confederates, the Union
troops surged up and over the walls of the redoubt. Some of
the Southern troops there surrendered, but others fell back out
of the fort and continued fighting. In the end, though, the
defenders of Blakeley were forced to surrender.
When the smoke had cleared, 216 men lay dead, 955 had
been wounded and 3,050 Confederate soldiers were
prisoners of war.
The site of the attack on Redoubt #4 is now preserved at
Historic Blakeley State Park. Visitors can tour the battlefield on
foot or by car and can explore the Confederate fortifications, the
Union breastworks and artillery batteries and the scene of the
Union charge.
The park is open to the public on a daily basis and brochures
for the Blakeley Battlefield Self-Guided Tour are provided by the
personnel at the park entrance.
ExploreSouthernHistory.com
| 15th Massachusetts Battery at Blakeley These earthworks protected the 12 pounder Napoleon cannon of the 15th Massachusetts Battery during the attack on Redoubt #4. |
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| The Union Third Parallel The earthworks seen here were the Third Parallel constructed by Union troops. The mound in the distance is the 15th Massachusetts Battery. |
| The Union Attack on Redoubt #4 This view from Redoubt #4 shows the ground across which the Union troops charged. The trees in the distance grow around the ravine that divided the two armies during the siege. |
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